XXXIX. Of a Christian man’s Oath
AS we confess that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Jesus Christ, so we judge that Christian religion doth not prohibit but that a man may swear when the magistrate requireth in a cause of faith and charity, so it be done according to the Prophet’s teaching in justice, judgement, and truth.
The current cultural context has shifted the meaning of this article quite a bit. What do you think they meant when they wrote this?
This invoked that giving oaths was an acceptable practice for believers in court. Some groups were beginning to eschew the practice of swearing oaths.
This is probably another anti-anabaptist article. They refused to swear oaths in court, etc.
I like that they want to make it clear that dirty words are still bad 🙂
“Let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes’, your ‘no’ be ‘no’…”
So, there ya go!
They were just clarifying the difference between cussing and swearing for legal purposes. Ya gotta do that when the masses are iggernant.
Xenia got it. The Anabaptists didn’t believe in taking oaths.
I still think it strange that courts ask people to swear on a bible when the bible would appear to prohibit that sort of oath.
An honest man doesn’t have to swear. Yes is yes and no is no.
Garym since this thread isn’t taking off, i was hoping you’d throw out a poem, called something like : “On Swearing and Swearing”
🙂
So, taking in an oath in court doesn’t fall into the category of vain and rash, is that correct? This begs the question, what would qualify as vain and rash swearing?
Josh? Not sure what you mean.
This article seems to be saying that their are two types of swearing:
1. Cussin’. That’s the bad kind.
2. The legal kind. That’s Ok to do.
Gary, I was sure you could turn out a humorous poem on the subject.
I don’t think swearing in court is vain or rash. Vain means meaningless and rash means impetuous. Vain swearing is cussing or swearing without meaning what you swear such as “I swear on a stack of bibles…” Cussing can mean calling down a curse. Swearing may also include making promises. Don’t make promises you don’t intend to keep or you can’t keep. Don’t make rash or vain promises. An honest man doesn’t have to promise.
I could do it. I swear. 😉
Are you looking for a purpose-driven laugh? What would warrant that?
Don’t be bothered by my request, friend. I was just on vacation for a while, and missed your writings on this blog. 🙂
Not bothered at all, just tired. We’re having unusually high heat and humidity here and I didn’t sleep much. I get silly when I’m tired.
I was on vacation too. My wife and I camped in the forest on the northern California coast.
That sounds wonderful. Me and the wife and kids took a little retreat to Edisto Island. Small secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. Loved it.
Linnea,
My guess is that what is forbidden are the impetus vows of Jeptha…and Ananias and Sapphira.
Josh,
I’m still trying to come up with something on swearing vs swearing.